Adaptation solutions for BC and Metro Vancouver

1. What do adaptation

measures look like?

• already happening

• future solutions

2. Resilience

3. Low-carbon attractive

resilient communities

Heat mapping data: Natural Resources Canada

Visualization, John Danahy, U of Toronto

Adaptation

to higher

temperatures

• Technological Solutions: – Better insulated buildings

– Reflective roads/walls

– Built in cooling systems (not AC!)

• Administrative Solutions – Weather warning systems

– Encourage tree planting

– Heat-waves plan for vulnerable

• Personal Behavioural Solutions – Maintain hydration

– Wear less formal clothing

– Change working hours

– Enjoy it!

Courtesy of Chris West, UKCIP

Risk of debris flooding

Increase through MPB

desease

Climate Change:

Increase of winter

precipitation

Kimberley: Fire, flooding, and heat risks

Visualization: Olaf Schroth/Courtney Miller, CALP

June 9, 2009 Community Open House

Kimberley Climate Adaptation Project Visualization Presentation

Adaptation and

Mitigation:

Resilient low-carbon

options

Image credit: Miller/Muir

Owen/Pond/CALP

Adapting to What?

NORTHSHORE VULNERABILITY TO

CLIMATE CHANGE

• High elevations, steep slopes

• Sensitive recreation and water

resources

• High rainfall

• Extensive forest areas

• Fragile salmon habitat/riparian ecosystems

• Critical stream flows and high run-off

• Low-lying shoreline areas

Recognizing Local Adaptation

6

ADAPTATION SOLUTIONS

Stormwater swale, 15th Street, West Vancouver

West Vancouver’s climate

change planning:

• Beach adaptation

(& ocean heat exchange)

8 Photos: Stephen Jenkins, District of West Vancouver

Current

Visualizations: David Flanders, CALP

2050

2100

2100

2100

How to Adapt?

Assessing 3 scenarios:

Hold the Line

Managed Retreat

Build Up

Delta Regional Adaptation Collaborative (RAC) Policy Report

(Barron et al., 2012)

Hold the line – 1.2m

Hold the line – 1.9m

Build Up

Ladner Dike View

1.2 m Sea Level Rise, Year ~2100

Value of Land & Buildings Agricultural Land Area Road & Dike Length

Build Up

Resilience – ability to absorb disturbances while retaining

the same basic structure and ways of

functioning; capacity to adapt.

Credit: Megan Voigt, UBC Landscape Architecture

Adaptation to crop suitability

Source: Royal BC Museum/Richard Hebda

Developed by Professor Nicholas Coops and Rory Tooke, UBC

for District of North Vancouver

Online interactive maps of solar roof potential

Northshore storyline: a high-carbon, high-risk aesthetic Existing

Housing

Mosquito

Creek

Grouse

Mountain

Mosquito Creek

High Risk of Blow

Down

Mod- High Forest Fuel Potential

Visualizations: David Flanders, CALP

2050

LABEL MOSQUITO CREEK LOW SUMMER FLOWS,SCOURED AND

ERODED; BURNT AREAS

(SHOWN IN HIGHER FIRE RISK AREAS); NEW HOUSING AT HIGHER RISK

Expansion of homes at higher elevations

Burnt areas

Kelowna, 2004

Renewable Energy Capacity Mapping

Example: Northshore biomass and micro-hydro

23

Low-carbon, Attractive, Resilient Communities

High-carbon, nondescript, vulnerable communities

Visualizations: David Flanders, CALP

Lo-CAR sustainability:

1. Low-Carbon

– 80% reductions of GHG emissions by 2050

– Hard target

2. Attractive/acceptable/‘awesome’ – Sense of identity, character/fit, and quality of life

3. Resilient

– Adapt to climate disruption, high energy prices,

etc., while maintaining core functions

Visualization: Jon Laurenz, CALP

Local food market

Live / work development

60% reduction in home energy consumption

Multifamily suites

Community gardening

Electric commuter

vehicles

Smaller, efficient cars

Increased public transit

Stormwater drainage swale Passive solar

conservatory

How much money do we want to spend to

safeguard our community?

Photo: Mark van Manen, Vancouver Sun

Resources:

Earthscan/Routledge book www.routledge.com/books/details/97818440782

02/

Delta RAC website: http://www.delta-adaptation-bc.ca Visualization Training Modules: http://www.delta-adaptation-bc.ca/category/training-modules/

www.calp.forestry.ubc.ca/publications

Visioning Guidance Manual

(Pond et al, 2010)

THINK BIG!

Daylighting the Cheong Gye

Cheon in Seoul, South Korea.

Courtesy of Dr. In-Keun Lee.